Digitally Delivered Exercise and Education Treatment Program for Low Back Pain: Longitudinal Observational Cohort Study

Abstract

Background: Exercise and education is recommended as first-line treatment by evidence-based, international guidelines for low back pain (LBP). Despite consensus regarding the treatment, there is a gap between guidelines and what is offered to patients. Digital LBP treatments are an emerging way of delivering first-line treatment.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate outcomes after participation in a 3-month digitally delivered treatment program for individuals with subacute or chronic LBP.

Methods: We analyzed data from 2593 consecutively recruited participants in a digitally delivered treatment program, available via the national health care system in Sweden. The program consists of video-instructed and progressive adaptable exercises, education through text lessons, and a chat and video function connecting participants with a personal physiotherapist. The primary outcome was mean change and proportion reaching a minimal clinically important change (MCIC) for LBP (2 points or 30% decrease) assessed with the numerical rating scale (average pain during the past week, discrete boxes, 0-10, best to worst). Secondary outcomes were mean change and proportion reaching MCIC (10 points or 30%) in disability, assessed with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI; 0-100, best to worst) and a question on patient acceptable symptom state (PASS).

Results: The mean participant age was 63 years, 73.85% (1915/2593) were female, 54.72% (1419/2593) had higher education, 50.56% (1311/2593) were retired, and the mean BMI was 26.5 kg/m2. Participants completed on average 84% of the prescribed exercises and lessons, with an adherence of ≥80% in 69.26% (1796/2593) and ≥90% in 50.13% (1300/2593) of the participants. Mean reduction in pain from baseline to 3 months was 1.7 (95% CI -1.8 to -1.6), corresponding to a 35% relative change. MCIC was reached by 58.50% (1517/2593) of participants. ODI decreased 4 points (95% CI -4.5 to -3.7), and 36.48% (946/2593) reached an MCIC. A change from no to yes in PASS was seen in 30.35% (787/2593) of participants. Multivariable analysis showed positive associations between reaching an MCIC in pain and high baseline pain (odds ratio [OR] 1.9, 95% CI 1.6-2.1), adherence (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.3-1.8), and motivation (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0-1.5), while we found negative associations for wish for surgery (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.5-0.9) and pain in other joints (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.7-0.9). We found no associations between sociodemographic characteristics and pain reduction.

Conclusions: Participants in this digitally delivered treatment for LBP had reduced pain at 3-month follow-up, and 58.50% (1517/2593) reported an MCIC in pain. Our findings suggest that digital treatment programs can reduce pain at clinically important levels for people with high adherence to treatment but that those with such severe LBP problems that they wish to undergo surgery may benefit from additional support.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05226156; https://ichgcp.net/clinical-trials-registry/NCT05226156.

Keywords: back pain; chronic pain; digital care; digital therapy; exercise; health outcome; low back pain; pain management; physiotherapy; rehabilitation; telehealth; telemedicine.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: HH, AK, and LSL are part-time employed by Joint Academy (JA); LED is the founder and chief medical officer at JA; HN is the vice president of clinical strategy at JA; MMI is full-time employed by JA as a data analyst. AA was a reviewer in the development of the content for the digital treatment program but received no compensation.

©Helena Hörder, Håkan Nero, Majda Misini Ignjatovic, Ali Kiadaliri, L Stefan Lohmander, Leif E Dahlberg, Allan Abbott. Originally published in JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology (https://rehab.jmir.org), 21.06.2022.

Figures

Figure 1

Flowchart of participants in the digital treatment for low back pain.

Figure 2

Mean pain reduction from baseline to 3 months stratified by adherence to treatment. Green lines with dots show statistically significant pairs (analysis of variance P<.05) with all other pairs being nonsignificant. NRS: numerical rating scale.

Figure 3

Weekly mean (95% CI bars) pain (NRS 0-10) during 3 months' participation in digitally delivered exercise and education treatment stratified by baseline pain. BL: baseline; NRS: numerical rating scale.

Figure 4

Weekly mean (95% CI bars) pain (NRS 0-10) during 3 months' participation in digitally delivered exercise and education treatment stratified by adherence. BL: baseline; NRS: numerical rating scale.